Senate adds death penalty amendment to kill hate crimes legislation
On Friday, the Senate passed the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act as an amendment to the fiscal year 2010 Department of Defense authorization bill. But today, the Senate passed an amendment to the Act, offered by Sen. Jeff Sessions, R. Ala., that would allow the death penalty to be applied in hate crimes cases under some circumstances.
Comic book geeks of the world unite at Comic-Con
Comic book, science fiction, animation and fantasy fans are all gearing up for the 40th Comic-Con International annual convention set to kick off at the San Diego Convention Center July 23-26. Organizers of the event say they expect it’s biggest turnout ever with 125,000 or so fans locked in. The huge venue is already sold out for the second year in a row.
Houston rallies to support health care reform
HOUSTON – A spirited rally was held recently at the Harris County AFL-CIO headquarters in Houston to support health care reform. The effort was called by Organizing for America which is the successor to Obama for America. Participants were treated to rousing speeches from local elected officials who support health care reform, including U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, Carol Alvarado, Texas State Senator, U.S. Rep. Al Green, and Jolanda Jones, Houston City Councilperson.
COMMENTARY: Kill them all!
“It was straight out of the movies. It was like: Let’s kill them all.” --A former CIA intelligence officer commenting about building military teams of Special Forces commandos to kill al Qaeda members. On July 22, 1208, and after Pope Innocent III launched the Albigensian Crusade against Catharism, the army reached the walls of Beziers, a small town in southern France. The soldiers consisted of religious fanatics and opportunists who believed their divine mission was to kill all Cathars. Catharism, which was thought to be a dangerous heresy, denied the divinity of Christ, was anti-authoritarian, and resisted the corruption and worldliness of the Church of Rome
Obama: Families in urgent need of health reform
Families are in desperate need of health reform, President Obama said in remarks at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, July 20. In his statement, after meeting with the hospital's administrators, doctors and nurses, the president also warned against Republican obstructionism on health reform.
Roger Rader: 1929-2009
TACOMA, Washington – Roger Rader’s family and friends gathered in the front yard of the family house here July 18 to remember his irascible personality but also his unwavering, lifelong fight for trade union rights, civil rights and socialism.
Obama takes lead on health reform
Pushing back against Republican opposition to health reform, President Obama this week launched a national campaign for urgent passage of health reform proposals in Congress.
Cost of health reform becomes new battleground
Opponents of real health care reform are now zeroing in on how it will be financed. They are arguing that universal health coverage, especially a public plan, is too expensive or, if they can’t block a public option, that it should be paid for by working class Americans through a tax on their existing health coverage. In other words, anything but the plan approved by two House committees, which would tax the rich.
Fight for the Cuban Five goes on
The dust has settled following the announcement June 15 that the U.S. Supreme Court had refused to review the case of the imprisoned Cuban Five. A storm of outrage exploded, followed by expressions of international solidarity. The question looms as to what remains for Gerardo, René, Tony, Ramón and Fernando.
LA workers vote to protect them from layoffs, furloughs
Some 22,000 city workers are voting on a labor deal that would protect them from layoffs and furloughs but keep them from receiving pay raises until 2011, to help the city reduce its $530 million budget deficit. Members of the Coalition of L.A. City Unions began casting ballots last week. The results will be announced Wednesday.
